Acts 15:1-5. AT ANTIOCH SOME MAINTAIN THAT GENTILE CONVERTS MUST BE CIRCUMCISED. A MISSION TO JERUSALEM ABOUT THE QUESTION. RECEPTION OF THOSE WHO WERE SENT The history now approaches that subject of controversy which was certain to arise as soon as Christianity spread beyond the limits of the peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΊ ΤΙΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΕΛΘΌΝΤΕΣ�, _and certain which came down from Judæa_, i.e. to Antioch. The words of the new comers would derive authority from the place whence they had come, and would be received as the latest ordinance of the heads of the Church at Jerusalem. Thus the mission of inquiry to Jerusalem w... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΕΝΟΜΈΝΗΣ ΔῈ ΣΤΆΣΕΩΣ ΚΑῚ ΖΗΤΉΣΕΩΣ, _and when there arose a debate and questioning_. στάσις does not necessarily imply angry dissension, but only a division. The members of the Church took opposite sides in the matter. Of course Paul and Barnabas would be with those who maintained that circumcision w... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΠΕΜΦΘΈΝΤΕΣ, _being brought on their way_. It was not an uncommon mark of affection or respect that a part of the Church at any place should attend its chief teachers for a short way on their journeys. (Cf. _infra_ Acts 20:38; Acts 21:16.) And for the antiquity of the custom among the Jews, see Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΕΔΈΧΘΗΣΑΝ ὙΠῸ ΤΗ͂Σ ἘΚΚΛΗΣΊΑΣ, _they were received by the Church_. The ἐκκλησία is perhaps named first because there would on such a visit be an assembly of the whole Christian body to hear the story of the missionary labours of Paul and Barnabas before the question about which they had specially... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΑΝΈΣΤΗΣΑΝ ΔΈ ΤΙΝΕΣ ΤΩ͂Ν … ΦΑΡΙΣΑΊΩΝ, _but there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees_. The margin of the A.V. takes this sentence as part of the narration of Paul and Barnabas, ‘there rose up, said they, certain, &c.’ But it is much more natural to consider it to be St Luke’s account of wh... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΉΧΘΗΣΑΝ ΔῈ ΟἹ�, _and the Apostles and elders were gathered together_. These words refer to a formal summoning to discuss the difficult question which had been brought forward. That there was a space between the first welcome of the Apostles by the Church and the assembly of the synod suits St Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM; THE DEBATE AND THE SPEECH OF PETER. NARRATION OF THE WORK OF BARNABAS AND PAUL... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ὙΜΙ͂Ν ἘΞΕΛΈΞΑΤΟ Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ with אABC. _Vulg_. has ‘Deus in nobis elegit.’ 7. ΠΟΛΛΗ͂Σ ΔῈ ΖΗΤΉΣΕΩΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _and when there had been much questioning_. For the Pharisaic element would find its warmest supporters at Jerusalem. And it is to that party that the disputing must be ascribed, for it is plain,... [ Continue Reading ]
αὐτοῖς after ΔΟῪΣ omitted with אAB. _Vulg_. only represents the pronoun once, though having ‘dans illis.’ 8. Ὁ ΚΑΡΔΙΟΓΝΏΣΤΗΣ, _which knoweth the hearts_. καρδιογνώστης is only here and in Acts 1:24, and on both occasions it is St Peter who uses it. Such a witness could admit of no appeal. God himse... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΟΥ̓ΘῈΝ ΔΙΈΚΡΙΝΕΝ, _and put no difference_, i.e. made no distinction. The Apostle looks on God’s testimony to the Gentiles in two lights. What was given to the new converts was the same which had been given at the first outpouring of the Spirit. And God made no mark of distinction to sever Jews f... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΥ͂Ν ΟΥ̓͂Ν, _now therefore_, i.e. after you have had so much evidence of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles, both in the early days and in the journeys of St Paul and Barnabas. ΤΊ ΠΕΙΡΆΖΕΤΕ ΤῸΝ ΘΕΌΝ; _why tempt ye God?_ Men are said ‘to tempt God’ when they distrust His guidance, and in consequence di... [ Continue Reading ]
Χριστοῦ omitted with אABEHLP. _Vulg_. has ‘Domini Jesu Christi.’ 11. ἈΛΛΆ, _but_. There is much implied in this one word. The Apostle means ‘But all this has been changed by God’s new revelation of Himself, and we should cease this tempting of Him, for we believe (if we are truly in Christ) that sa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΣΊΓΗΣΕΝ ΔῈ ΠΑ͂Ν ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ, _then all the multitude kept silence_. We see here, though the Apostles and Elders are alone mentioned (Acts 15:6) as being gathered together, that the assembly was a very large one. The cause of their silence was the voice of authority with which he could speak through... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ, i.e. Paul and Barnabas. ἸΆΚΩΒΟΣ, _James_, i.e. the brother of our Lord who was so called, and who was at the head of the Church in Jerusalem. See above on Acts 12:17. ἈΚΟΎΣΑΤΈ ΜΟΥ, _hearken unto me_. The president’s summary takes no note of the ‘much questioning’ (Acts 15:7) but points ou... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES SUMS UP THE DISCUSSION, AND PRONOUNCES THE DECISION OF THE CHURCH ON THIS CONTROVERSY... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐπὶ omitted before ΤΩ͂Ι ὈΝΌΜΑΤΙ with אABCDE. Not represented in _Vulg_. 14. ΣΥΜΕΏΝ, _Symeon_. This more Jewish form of the name of the Apostle Peter is found also at the commencement of St Peter’s second Epistle. The Jews after they came to have much intercourse with Gentiles had frequently two for... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤΟΎΤΩΙ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΟΥ͂ΣΙΝ, _and to this agree_, i.e. with this action on God’s part the statements of His prophets are in harmony. They had foretold that it should be so. Only one prophet is here quoted, viz. Amos (Acts 9:11-12), but the audience would recall other like passages, as St Paul does Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ, _after these things_. It will be seen on reference to the words of Amos that the quotation here given is not made from the Hebrew, which is correctly represented by the A.V. in the book of Amos. Whether St James himself spoke at the synod in Greek, or St Luke has represented in Greek wh... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΠΩΣ ἊΝ ἘΚΖΗΤΉΣΩΣΙΝ … ΤῸΝ ΚΎΡΙΟΝ, _they might seek after the Lord_. The Hebrew of Amos (see A.V.) differs widely here; and in the LXX. τὸν κύριον is not expressed. But the Spirit enabled St James to give the full interpretation of the prophetic words. The original paints the restored tabernacle, and... [ Continue Reading ]
17, 18. ΚΎΡΙΟΣ ΠΟΙΩ͂Ν ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ ΓΝΩΣΤᾺ�' ΑἸΩ͂ΝΟΣ. ΔΙῸ … with אBC. The _Vulg_. gives ‘Dominus faciens hæc. Notum a sæculo est Domino opus suum. Propter quod …’ But on the verses see notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΙΩ͂Ν ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ ΓΝΩΣΤᾺ�' ΑἸΩ͂ΝΟΣ. This is the reading supported by most authority, and the sense must be either (1) ‘the Lord who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world,’ or (2) ‘the Lord, who doeth these things that were known from the beginning of the world.’ The first of these re... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙῸ ἘΓῺ ΚΡΊΝΩ, _wherefore I decide_. The pronoun is emphatically expressed, and indicates that the speaker is one who may decide with authority. ΜῊ ΠΑΡΕΝΟΧΛΕΙ͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ., _that we trouble not them, &_c. The verb is only found here in N.T., but is somewhat frequent in the LXX. Thus of the fire around... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΛΛᾺ ἘΠΙΣΤΕΙ͂ΛΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ, _but that we write unto them_. ἐπιστέλλω is used primarily of a charge sent by a messenger, but also, as in Hebrews 13:22, is often used of what is sent by letter (and hence comes the English word _epistle_), and there can be little doubt that this is the sense in the pres... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΩΫΣΗ͂Σ ΓᾺΡ ἘΚ ΓΕΝΕΩ͂Ν�.Τ.Λ., _for Moses of old time_ (lit. from generations of old) _hath in every city, &_c. Here we have the reason why these injunctions are to be laid upon the Gentile converts. It is necessary however to take the whole verse into consideration before we can decide on the force... [ Continue Reading ]
ANSWER AND DEPUTATION SENT FROM JERUSALEM. THE LETTER OF THE SYNOD TO THE CHRISTIANS OF ANTIOCH... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ ἜΔΟΞΕ, _then it seemed good_. The expression is one often used in the official announcements of public resolutions, or decrees made by authority. (Cf. Herod. I. 3; Thuc. IV. 118.) ΣῪΝ ὍΛΗΙ ΤΗ͂Ι ἘΚΚΛΗΣΊΑΙ, _with the whole Church_. The decree was the voice of the whole Church, and the deputies s... [ Continue Reading ]
τάδε after ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν omitted with אAB. _Vulg_. has only ‘per manus eorum.’ καὶ οἱ before ἈΔΕΛΦΟῚ omitted with אABCD. _Vulg_. has ‘et seniores fratres.’ 23. ΓΡΆΨΑΝΤΕΣ, _having written_. From the form in which the document is here given, we should judge that the original was in Greek. A translation fr... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγοντες περιτέμνεσθαι καὶ τηρεῖν τὸν νόμον omitted with אABD. Not represented in _Vulg_. 24. ἘΞΕΛΘΌΝΤΕΣ, _which went out_. Some ancient MSS. omit this word, but it seems to have a distinct and necessary force. The disturbing teachers had come from Jerusalem, but their want of any authority is cont... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΕΝΟΜΈΝΟΙΣ ὉΜΟΘΥΜΑΔΌΝ, _having become of one accord_. This rendering makes some distinction between ὁμοθυμαδόν with εἰμί and with γίγνομαι. With the substantive verb this adverb stands in Acts 2:1; Acts 4:24; Acts 5:12, and may there be rendered ‘being with one accord.’ ἘΚΛΕΞΑΜΈΝΟΥΣ ἌΝΔΡΑΣ ΠΈΜΨΑΙ Π... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΘΡΏΠΟΙΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΕΔΩΚΌΣΙ ΤᾺΣ ΨΥΧᾺΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν, _men that have hazarded their lives_. This Paul and Barnabas had done on several occasions. (See Acts 13:50; Acts 14:2; Acts 14:5; Acts 14:19.) ὙΠῈΡ ΤΟΥ͂ ὈΝΌΜΑΤΟΣ, _for the name_. Here, as often, _name_ signifies the Messianic dignity and divine authority o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΛΌΓΟΥ, _by word_, i.e. by word of mouth. ἈΠΑΓΓΈΛΛΟΝΤΑΣ, _announcing_. The present tense is however equivalent to a future. ‘We have sent them announcing,’ i.e. as announcers, as persons to announce. So that the A.V. ‘who shall tell you’ is the precise sense and excellent English. The use of thi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΔΟΞΕΝ ΓᾺΡ ΤΩ͂Ι ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ ΤΩ͂Ι ἉΓΊΩΙ ΚΑῚ ἩΜΙ͂Ν, _for it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us_. A third time in this clause of the narrative from 22–29 does this official word occur, from which is derived the noun _dogma_. It had been promised that to the Apostles there should be given the Spirit o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓͂ ΠΡΆΞΕΤΕ, _ye shall do well_, i.e. it shall be well with you. ἜΡΡΩΣΘΕ, _fare ye well_. This conclusion and the greeting at the commencement of the letter are in the style of Western, rather than Oriental, epistolary language. See above on Acts 15:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΗ͂ΛΘΟΝ ΕἸΣ ἈΝΤΙΌΧΕΙΑΝ, _came down to Antioch_. As in Acts 8:5, Jerusalem is regarded as the chief seat of Church-government, and the centre of authority. Throughout the Bible the chosen place is always spoken of as one to which men _go up_. ΣΥΝΑΓΑΓΌΝΤΕΣ ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ, _having gathered the multitude... [ Continue Reading ]
RECEPTION OF THE LETTER AND MESSENGERS AT ANTIOCH... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΧΆΡΗΣΑΝ ἘΠῚ ΤΗ͂Ι ΠΑΡΑΚΛΉΣΕΙ, _rejoiced for the consolation_. Barnabas (υἱὸς παρακλήσεως, Acts 4:36) was a fit member of such an embassy. The consolation would be felt both by Jews and Gentiles, by the former because they now knew how much was to be asked of their Gentile fellow-worshippers, by the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΑΥ̓ΤΟῚ ΠΡΟΦΗ͂ΤΑΙ ὌΝΤΕΣ, _being prophets also themselves_. προφήτης is here used in the earlier and less special sense; not as one who foretells the future, but who, being filled with the Spirit, speaks with His authority in explanation of the will of God. Judas and Silas being thus endowed were... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΣΤΕΊΛΑΝΤΑΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ for ἀποστόλους with אABCD. _Vulg_. ‘ad eos qui miserant illos.’ 33. ΜΕΤ' ΕἸΡΉΝΗΣ, _in peace_. This means with a parting prayer for their peace and welfare. The expression is a rendering of a common Hebrew phrase, and is found in the LXX. of Genesis 26:29; Judges 8:9; Judges 11... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔδοξεν δὲ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἐπιμεῖναι αὐτοῦ omitted with אABEHLP. _Vulg_. has ‘Visum est autem Silæ ibi remanere,’ and continues with words not represented in _Text. recept_., and only partly in D, viz. ‘Judas autem solus abiit Jerusalem.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΔΆΣΚΟΝΤΕΣ ΚΑῚ ΕΥ̓ΑΓΓΕΛΙΖΌΜΕΝΟΙ, _teaching and preaching_. In such a community there was need not only of setting forth Jesus as the Saviour, but of much instruction concerning the ways in which God had shewn that the Gentiles were now to be made partakers of the new covenant. So that the two verbs... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ ΠΡῸΣ ΒΑΡΝΆΒΑΝ ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΣ with אABC. So _Vulg_. ‘dixit ad Barnabam Paulus.’ ἡμῶν after ἈΔΕΛΦΟῪΣ omitted with אABCDE. Not represented in _Vulg_. 36. ΤΟῪΣ�, _the brethren_. Implying both their own converts and those who should have been won to the Church since Paul and Barnabas came away. ΚΑΤᾺ ΠΌ... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW MISSION-JOURNEY PROPOSED. CONTENTION BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS. THEY SEPARATE, AND PAUL WITH SILAS GOES THROUGH SYRIA AND CILICIA... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΒΟΎΛΕΤΟ for ἐβουλεύσατο with אABCE. _Vulg_. ‘volebat.’ ΚΑῚ before τὸν Ἰωάννην with אB, but the καὶ without the succeeding article appears also in CE. _Vulg_. has ‘et Joannem.’ 37. ΒΑΡΝΆΒΑΣ ΔῈ ἘΒΟΎΛΕΤΟ, _but Barnabas wished_. Rev. Ver. ‘was minded.’ The reason for Barnabas’ wish was probably becau... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ�' ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν, _him who departed from them_. See above, Acts 13:13. He turned back to Jerusalem from Perga.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔῈ for οὖν after ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ with אABD. _Vulg_. ‘autem.’ 39. ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ΔῈ ΠΑΡΟΞΥΣΜῸΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _and there arose a sharp contention, so that_, &c. παροξυσμός (from which comes our English _paroxysm_) intimates a temporary rather than a prolonged dispute, although it may for the time be severe. The result to... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΥΡΊΟΥ for θεοῦ with אABD. _Vulg_. ‘Dei.’ 40. ΠΑΡΑΔΟΘΕΊΣ, _being commended_. See above on Acts 14:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ΣΥΡΊΑΝ ΚΑῚ ΚΙΛΙΚΊΑΝ, _Syria and Cilicia_. These were the districts in which the teaching of the Judaizers had been most active, and the presence of Paul, with Silas as a representative of the Church in Jerusalem, would allay all doubts and questionings, and lead to those results which are mentio... [ Continue Reading ]